Pietersen has had to make do with lots of gym work in South Africa

England batsman Kevin Pietersen is frustrated that the inclement weather in South Africa has curbed the preparations for the Test series.

England won the one-day series against the Proteas 2-1 but two matches were abandoned and some training cancelled ahead of next week's first Test.

"It's very frustrating sitting in a hotel room," said Pietersen.

Pietersen returned from a four-month injury lay-off injury on 15 November but is yet to play a major innings.

After undergoing surgery on an Achilles tendon problem in the summer, his return to action has been underwhelming, hitting 85 runs in five innings.

But new England batting coach Graham Gooch said: "If you've been out of the game with injury, you've got to work hard to find your way back both mentally and physically.

"Kevin has been a super performer for England since 2005. He's been a match-winner - and I'm sure he'll continue to be a match-winner. But, if you've been off for a while, it takes time.

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"It's not easy to just get yourself back into it. But, in his case, he's been the mainstay of the England batting over the last four years - and I would expect him to continue."

England will have played only three days of cricket in three weeks by the time their first of two scheduled tour matches against South African Airways XIs begins in East London on Wednesday.

But Pietersen remains confident that he and his England team-mates will be ready when the first Test begins in Centurion on 16 December.

He said: "It's worked in our favour so far, in terms of the results. But we're here to play cricket; we want to play cricket, to do what we love. It's been very hit and miss so far on this tour."

"There are quite a few of us with good experience of international cricket, so we're going to have to draw from that. We have to get our heads round what we can't control and then when we do get the opportunity to go and train, make sure we make the most of it.

"It will be a very, very tough series for us - being away from home as well - and we just want to get started."

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